Altoona, PA Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Altoona, PA Summary
Cost of living in Altoona research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Altoona is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Pennsylvania, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Altoona is 89, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Altoona is 0.9x lower than the national average.
Altoona ranks as the #50 cheapest in Pennsylvania out of 255.
Altoona ranks as the #1,060 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Altoona is $138,040.
The median income in Altoona is $50,171.
Table Of Contents
Altoona's Overall Cost Of Living
Lower Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Altoona, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Altoona has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Altoona has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 100.
The standard of living in Altoona ranks as #50 most affordable out of the 255 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Altoona ranks as the #205 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Altoona, check out:
In Pennsylvania
In America
Altoona Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Altoona. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Altoona is 94.
The Groceries index in Altoona is 98.
The Health index in Altoona is 92.
The Housing index in Altoona is 56.
The Transportation index in Altoona is 105.
The Utilities index in Altoona is 126.
| Living Expense | Altoona | Pennsylvania | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 100 | 100 | |
| Services | 94 | 101 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 98 | 101 | 100 | |
| Health | 92 | 95 | 100 | |
| Housing | 56 | 93 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 105 | 108 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 126 | 108 | 100 | |
Altoona, PA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Pennsylvania, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Altoona is $138,040.
The Median Rent in Altoona is $789.
The Median Income in Altoona is $50,171.
The Home Value To Income in Altoona is 2.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Altoona is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Altoona | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $138,040 | $281,782 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $789 | $1,162 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $50,171 | $76,081 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.8x | 3.7x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Altoona, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Altoona Services Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Altoona | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.39 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.77 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.24 | $18 |
| Haircut | $23.73 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.4 | $45.56 |
Detailed Altoona Groceries Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Altoona | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.7 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.52 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.47 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.83 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.58 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Altoona Health Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Altoona | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $109.26 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $100.92 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $110.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Altoona Transportation Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Altoona | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.73 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.05 | $59.92 |
Detailed Altoona Utilities Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Altoona | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $270.68 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $196.77 | $192.25 |
Altoona SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Altoona
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Altoona. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
State College, PA has a cost of living index of 121, 1.4x Altoona.
Indiana, PA has a cost of living index of 92, 1.0x Altoona.
DuBois, PA has a cost of living index of 87, 1.0x Altoona.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Altoona |
|---|---|---|---|
| State College, PA | 40,669 | 121 | 1.4x |
| Indiana, PA | 14,170 | 92 | 1.0x |
| DuBois, PA | 7,449 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Huntingdon, PA | 6,884 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Bellefonte, PA | 6,022 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Hollidaysburg, PA | 5,581 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Tyrone, PA | 5,421 | 87 | 1.0x |
